The living room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The living room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

A view down the stairs in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A view down the stairs in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and...

The master bedroom closet doors in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The master bedroom closet doors in the home of artist Sharon...

A closet / library in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A closet / library in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

Artist Sharon Bartlett stands in the kitchen of the home she shares with her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Artist Sharon Bartlett stands in the kitchen of the home she shares...

A closet / library in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A closet / library in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

The second floor in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The second floor in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

An antique dentist chest in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

An antique dentist chest in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and...

An art piece by artist Sharon Bartlett in the home she shares with her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

An art piece by artist Sharon Bartlett in the home she shares with...

A sitting area in a guest bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A sitting area in a guest bedroom in the home of artist Sharon...

Sharon Bartlett points out a hand-carved panel from Thailand that was repurposed as a headboard in the master bedroom.
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Sharon Bartlett points out a hand-carved panel from Thailand that...

A hand-carved panel from Thailand was fused with a room divider screen and repurposed as a headboard in Dub and Sharon Bartlett's master bedroom.
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A hand-carved panel from Thailand was fused with a room divider...

Engineer Dub Bartlett's office also doubles as an informal gallery for his artist wife Sharon's work.

Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Engineer Dub Bartlett's office also doubles as an informal gallery...

A hallway in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A hallway in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub...

The living room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The living room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

A guest bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A guest bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

A bar cart in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A bar cart in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband...

The master bedroom bathroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The master bedroom bathroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett...

The master bedroom bathtub in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The master bedroom bathtub in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett...

Art work on a kitchen wall in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Art work on a kitchen wall in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett...

The open layout of the Bartletts' home is designed to showcase the couple's passions. A raised platform with a piano seems to float over the two-story living room.
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The open layout of the Bartletts' home is designed to showcase the...

The dining room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The dining room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

A guest bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A guest bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

Dub Bartlett's office in the home he shares with his wife artist Sharon Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by Bartlett who is an engineer Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Dub Bartlett's office in the home he shares with his wife artist...

The a wicker backed chair in the dining area in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The a wicker backed chair in the dining area in the home of artist...

A cabinet detail in the master bedroom bathroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A cabinet detail in the master bedroom bathroom in the home of...

Dub Bartlett's office in the home he shares with his wife artist Sharon Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by Bartlett who is an engineer Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Dub Bartlett's office in the home he shares with his wife artist...

A dining table in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A dining table in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

An upstairs room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

An upstairs room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

The living room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The living room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

A guest bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

A guest bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

The living room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The living room in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

The master bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The master bedroom in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

Decorative eggs in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Decorative eggs in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her...

Sharon Bartlett watched artisans create the sunburst caning pattern on the dining room chairs while on a trip to India. A vintage dentist cabinet from the 1800s, found in Bombay, sits at the foot of the stairs; it still smells of ether. Polished cement floors were chosen because they are low maintenance.
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The master bedroom closet door knobs in the home of artist Sharon Bartlett and her husband Dub Bartlett, the home is an unusual tin house that was built by her engineer husband Monday, April 7, 2014, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

The master bedroom closet door knobs in the home of artist Sharon...

Sharon Bartlett watched artisans create the sunburst caning pattern on the dining room chairs while on a trip to India. A vintage dentist cabinet from the 1800s, found in Bombay, sits at the foot of the stairs; it still smells of ether. Polished cement floors were chosen because they are low maintenance.
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff